Determination of Metabolites in U.S. Biosolids to Assess Removal of Parent Antimicrobials in the Built Environment

摘要

Background/Objectives. Removal of chlorinated, endocrine-disrupting antimicrobials from wastewater is a function of adsorption, abiotic degradation, and microbial transformation, reactions that are not currently controlled or optimized in the pollution control infrastructure of standard wastewater treatment. Approach/Activities. Here, we used the relative levels in U.S. biosolids of four hydrophobic primary degradates of triclocarban (TCC) and triclosan (TCS) to assess removal of the parent compounds in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Biosolids and sewage sludge were sampled at 13 plants across 9 states and analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.